An estimated P4.2 million in funding will go to the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC).

Consortium Manager Lerma dela Llana said the funding for regional health researches this year came from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH) and DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).

During the recent 2nd Western Visayas Health Research Conference in Iloilo City, DOH Assistant Regional Director Paz Corrales said health research is integral part of crafting health policies.

“Researches have been helpful in policy making. Even in the regional level, we cannot function without research,” Corrales said.

According to dela Llana, the biggest challenge is the utilization of the health researches that can be implemented by either the government or the private sector.

The consortium has 24 partners in the academe and other research organizations.

DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya said the Duterte administration could bring in more funds in the years to come.

“We have been mandated to increase support in the regions, particularly in the area of health research,” Montoya said.

By Tara Yap, Manila Bulletin